Comment by PowerElectronix
5 hours ago
Yeah, we're still very far from a machine routing PCBs. Nice project, though, looks pretty fun to do it with an AI.
5 hours ago
Yeah, we're still very far from a machine routing PCBs. Nice project, though, looks pretty fun to do it with an AI.
Machine routing is very old thing. Early Eagle did it fine. I worked 12 years ago on 4 layer pcb initially routed with Eagle. Layers with horizontal and vertical wires were unusual at the time, but the board worked fine. It’s the connector placement according enclosure design files, part management/availability/obsolescence and design for test what needs reliable automation. The tool may not hallucinate here.
I researched a bit on how to manufacture PCBs at home, and i came across Voltera V one. The price is indeed way too high, but I am hoping somebody will make a foss version of it. There are already pretty interesting foss PnP machines.
For a 2-layer pcb I would either go chemical etching or a small routing cnc. Chemical etching kits , uv lamps and blank pcbs are not "too" expensive, but it's more of a professional setup than a hobbyist. Just think of all the PCBs yoi can send to manufacture (and with 4 layers and more) for the price of even getting half the stuff.
real PCBs are so much better than anything you can do at home, and so cheap, and so easy to order now, it's just not worth it